Rheumatic Disturbances and Illness in Women Linked to the Manner of Carrying Out Work Tasks

Prikazuju se podaci o učestalosti degenerativnih bolesti kralješnice i zglobova ekstremiteta u uzorcima stanovništva srednje životne dobi u Hrvatskoj. Na primjeru cervikobrahijalnog sindroma raspravlja se o mogućim egzogenim i endogenim faktorima u nastanku i razvoju reumatskih bolesti. Napominje se važnost psihičkog profila bolesnice i moguće psihogene superpozicije, ali i nepovoljnog utjecaja radnih opterećenja, loših mikroklimatskih uvjeta, neprilagođenosti novim tehnologijama i nepoštivanja ergonomskih principa pri radu u nastanku reumatskih tegoba naših radnica migranata. Bolni sindromi vratne kralješnice, nazvani u Švedskoj »doseljenički sindrom« predmet su novijih istraživanja u kojima ni etiologija, a niti simptomatologija nisu dovoljno razjašnjene. Raspravlja se o mogućnostima primarne, sekundarne i tercijarne prevencije reumatskih tegoba i/ili bolesti. U samozaštitnim mjerama koje treba poticati, rano prepoznavanje karakterističnih simptoma bolesti ima kapitalno značenje. Napominje se potreba podizanja zdravstvene kulture radnica-migranata, provođenje profilaktičkih kineziterapijskih mjera na radu i kod kuće, kao i bolja suradnja naših liječnika i socijalnih radnika sa stručnjacima sličnih profila u stranim zemljama.The paper presents data on the frequency of degenerative illnesses of the spine and in the joints of the extremities in samples of the middle-aged population in the SR of Croatia. Every fourth woman between 38 and 57 years of age had disturbances of the spine, and every fifth one had disturbances in the joints of her extremities. Medical findings suspect of rheumatic arthritis was recorded in 11.4 % of the women. A clear clinical picture of rheumatic arthritic was recorded in 1 % of the women, and only in 0.2 % of the men of middle age. Taking the case of the cervico-brachial syndrome, the paper discusses possible exogenous and endogenous factors in the appearance and development of rheumatic illness. In regard to the appearance of rheumatic disorders among women migrants, attention is paid to the importance of the psychic profile of the patient, to possible psychogenic superpositions – but also to the unfavourable effect of work loads, to poor micro-climatic conditions, to the unsuitability of new technologies and to the disregard of ergonomie principles at work. Painful symptoms in the neck spinal area, called in Sweden the “immigrant syndrome”, have been the subject of recent research in which neither the aethiology nor the symptomatology have been sufficiently clarified. As a typical example of unfavourable effects of work on morphologic and functional changes in the small joints of the hand, mention is made of the hands of housewives, women workers in industry, typists, violinists. The paper discusses the possibilities of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of rheumatic disturbances and/or illnesses. Among the self-protective measures which need to be encouraged, early recognition of characteristic symptoms of illness is of major significance. The author mentions the need of raising the health culture of women migrant workers, of implementing prophylactic kinesotherapeutic measures at work and at home, as well as the need to improve co-operation between Yugoslav doctors and social workers and their colleagues in foreign countries